András Schiff (piano) ECM New Series 467 3909 (2 CDs) ****

András Schiff's new Schumann collection is titled after its shortest piece, the late Theme and Variations known as the Ghost Variations (the troubled composer was having hallucinations and believed he was hearing music from ghosts and angels), which the Hungarian pianist will be playing in recital in Dublin next month. Schiff nicely preserves the piece's peculiarly haunting quality. His selection also includes Papillons, the Sonata in F sharp minor, Kinderszenen, Waldszenenand the Fantasy in C, which he offers with a fascinating ending that the composer struck out before reaching his final thoughts (a bonus track offers the familiar version). The performances are thoughtful, even if the playing sometimes does venture into over-characterisation. See url.ie/7ebo